IRVINE, Calif. - UC San Diego heads into the Big West Championship this week as the No. 5 seed.

The tourney is set for April 20-22 at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center.

The Tritons open play on Thursday at 5 p.m. with a first round match-up against UC Santa Barbara, the No. 4 seed. The two squads split their two-match regular season series with both winning on their home court.

In Thursday's second first round match, No. 6 CSUN faces off against No. 3 UC Irvine at 7:30 p.m.

The semifinals follow on Friday. No. 1 Hawai'i gets the winner of the UC San Diego/UC Santa Barbara match while No. 2 Long Beach State will go up against the winner of the CSUN/UC Irvine tilt. The semis are scheduled for 5 p.m and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday's championship match is slated for a 7:30 p.m. first serve.

The winner of the tournament earns an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA National Collegiate Championship, hosted by George Mason April 30 through May 6 at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Va.

The first four Big West Championship matches can be followed with a live ESPN+ broadcast and live stats. The title match can be followed with a live ESPNU broadcast in addition to live stats. Links can be found on the Tournament Central page. 

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THE ESSENTIALS
--- Match 25: Big West Championship First Round---
• #5 Seed UC San Diego (8-16, 2-8) vs. #4 Seed UC Santa Barbara (7-16, 3-7)
• Thursday / April 20 / 5 p.m. Pacific
• Bren Events Center / Irvine, Calif. (map)
• Tickets
• ESPN+
• Live Stats
• Twitter / Instagram

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THE SERIES: TRITONS v GAUCHOS
• Overall: UC Santa Barbara leads 52-11
• Last Meeting: 4/7/23, UC San Diego wins 3-2 in La Jolla (box score)
• Last UC Santa Barbara win: 3/3/23, 3-1 in Santa Barbara (box score)
• Streak: UC San Diego 1 win

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2023 BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
First Round (April 20)
• Match 1: #5 Seed UC San Diego vs. #4 Seed UC Santa Barbara, 5 p.m.
• Match 2: #6 Seed CSUN vs. #3 Seed UC Irvine, 7:30 p.m.

Semifinals (April 21)
• Match 3: Winner match 1 vs. #1 Seed Hawai'i, 5 p.m.
• Match 4: Winner match 2 vs. #2 Seed Long Beach State, 7:30 p.m.

Final (April 22)
• Match 5: Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 7:30 p.m.

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TRITONS IN THE BIG WEST TOURNAMENT (2-4 overall)
vs. CSUN: 1-0
vs. Hawai'i: 1-0
vs. UC Santa Barbara: 0-1
vs. UC Irvine: 0-3
vs. Long Beach State: 0-0

2022
• 4/21 (First Round): UC Irvine 3, UC San Diego 0 in Honolulu (box score)

2021
• 4/22 (First Round): CSUN 1, UC San Diego 3 in Honolulu (box score)
• 4/23 (Semifinal): UC San Diego 3, Hawai'i 2 in Honolulu (box score)
• 4/24 (Final): UC San Diego 1, UC Santa Barbara 3 in Honolulu (box score)

2020
• Tournament canceled due to pandemic

2019
• 4/18 (First Round): UC San Diego 0, UC Irvine 3 in Honolulu (box score)

2018
• 4/19 (First Round): UC San Diego 0, UC Irvine 3 in Long Beach (box score)

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ABOUT THE UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
• Overall: 8-18
• Big West: 2-8
• Home: 5-4
• Away: 1-10
• Neutral: 2-2
• Streak: 2 losses
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 1-14
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked
• Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 6

ABOUT THE UC SANTA BARBARA GAUCHOS
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics
• Overall: 7-16
• Big West: 3-7
• Home: 6-6
• Away: 1-10
• Neutral: 0-0
• Streak: 2 wins
• Against nationally-ranked teams: 5-15
• AVCA national ranking: Not ranked (receiving votes)
• Big West Preseason Poll: 5th of 6

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2023 BIG WEST STANDINGS (through 4/18)

Team	Big West	Overall
Hawai'i (#1)	9-1	26-2
Long Beach State (#4)	9-1	20-3
UC Irvine (#5)	6-4	16-10
UC Santa Barbara (RV)	3-7	7-16
UC San Diego	2-8	8-16
CSUN (RV)	1-9	12-15

 

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UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Starters Returning (1)
• Ryan Ka (Sr. OH)

Starters Lost (5)
• Shane Benetz (MB)
• Logan Clark (MB)
• Blake Crisp (S)
• Wyatt Harrison (OH)
• Kyle McCauley (OH)

Primary Liberos Returning (0)

Primary Liberos Lost (1)
• Matt Palma

Others Returning (12)
• Ben Blakely (So. OPP/OH)
• Andrew Boyle (Jr. S)
• Gabriel Dyer (So. S/OPP)
• Jim Garrison (R-Fr. MB)
• Matthew Lim (So. OH)
• Berkeley Miesfeld (R-Sr. OPP)
• Brett Pursley (R-Fr. OH)
• Nick Rigo (Jr. MB)
• Josh Schellinger (R-Fr. OH)
• Peter Selcho (R-Fr. MB)
• Michael Urdahl (R-Sr. MB)
• Paya Vatanshenas (R-So. L)

Others Lost (2)
• Jason Lee (OH)
• Charlie Siragusa (OH/OPP)

Newcomers (8)
• Evan Boyle (Fr. L)
• Joshua Ewert (Fr. OH)
• Spiro Maranda (So. MB)
• Leo Pravednikov (Fr. OH)
• Michael Robertson (Fr. OPP)
• Sam Warren (So. OH)
• Zachary Weston (So. MB)
• Cameron Wurl (Fr. S)

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FIVE TRITONS EARN BIG WEST POSTSEASON ACCLAIM
On Wednesday, April 19, five players from UC San Diego garnered postseason accolades from the Big West. Senior Ryan Ka was named All-Big West Honorable Mention while Evan Boyle, Josh Ewert, Jim Garrison, and Josh Schellinger were selected to the league's All-Freshman Team.

RYAN KA
Senior • 6-3 • Outside Hitter
San Marcos, Calif. • San Marcos HS
Management Science • Muir College
• Among Big West players in conference matches, ranks third in kills (131), fourth in kills/set (3.74), fifth in points (143.5), and sixth in points/set (4.10)
• Leads UC San Diego in kills (313), kills/set (3.86), points (346), points/set (4.27), and total attacks (753)
• Second on team in blocks (37)
• Fourth on team in digs (104)
• At least 10 kills in 17 matches
• 20 or more kills in four matches
• His career-high 31 kills vs. Ball State (3/5) are the eighth-most in a single match in the country this season
• His 31 kills vs. Ball State (3/5) are the second-most by any Big West player in a single match the season
• His 28 kills vs. UCSB (4/7) are the third-most by any Big West player in a single match this season
• His 66 attacks against UCSB (4/7) are the most by any Big West player in a single match this season
• His 58 attacks against Ball State (3/5) are the second-most by any Big West player this season

EVAN BOYLE
Freshman • 6-0 • Libero
La Crescenta, Calif. • Crescenta Valley HS
Business & Economics • Sixth College
• Big West Defensive Player of the Week (3/6)
• Big West Freshman of the Week (1/9)
• Leads team in digs (175), digs/set (2.08), and receptions (647)
• Third in Big West in digs/set (2.08) and fifth in total digs (175)
• Holds a .943 reception percentage
• Had a season-best 15 digs at UCSB (3/3)
• His 15 digs at UCSB (3/3) are the eighth-most by any Big West player this season
• Totaled 42 assists, second-most on the team

JOSH EWERT
Freshman • 6-4 • Outside Hitter
Moraga, Calif. • Campolindo HS
Business & Economics • Seventh College
• Averaging 1.38 points/set and 1.1 kills/set
• Set career-highs with nine kills, five service aces, 15 points, and a .571 attack percentage vs. Erskine (1/28)
• His five aces vs. Erskine (1/28) are the eighth-most in a single match by any Big West player

JIM GARRISON
Redshirt Freshman • 6-9 • Middle Blocker
Manhattan Beach, Calif. • Mira Costa HS
Computer Science • Warren College
• Big West Freshman of the Week (4/9)
• Averaging 1.71 points/set and 1.09 kills/set
• Second on the team with 14 service aces
• Leads team in aces/set (0.25)
• Established career-highs with nine kills and 12.5 points at Hawai'i (4/14)
• His seven blocks vs. UCSB (4/7) are a career-best

JOSH SCHELLINGER
Redshirt Freshman • 6-5 • Outside Hitter
Bloomingdale, Ill. • Lake Park HS
Business Economics • Sixth College
• Four-time Big West Freshman of the Week (4/17, 2/27, 2/20, 1/23)
• Off the Block Offensive Player of the Night (1/18)
• Second on team in points (207.5), points/set (2.84), kills (188), kills/set (2.58)
• Fourth on team in aces (11)
• Fifth on team in digs (79) and digs/set (1.08)
• 12th in Big West in kills/set (2.58)
• 14th in Big West in kills (73)
• 10 or more kills in 10 matches
• Five matches with five or more digs
• Set career-highs with 15 kills and 17 points vs. Menlo (1/18)
• Career-best four service aces vs. Ottawa (2/3)

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SELCHO, SCHELLINGER EARN OFF THE BLOCK RECOGNITION
Peter Selcho was named Off the Block's Defensive Player of the Night on Jan. 17, while Josh Schellinger was selected as the outlet's Offensive Player of the Night on Jan. 18. Schellinger put down a career-best 15 kills and hit an astounding .714 (15-0-21) while also adding a pair of service aces against Menlo College. Selcho was big at the net against Emmanuel, finishing with a career-high seven blocks. The Tritons won both matches in straight sets.

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THEIR FIRST TIME OUT
Eight Tritons have made their collegiate debuts so far this season: Evan Boyle, Jim Garrison, Michael Robertson, Brett Pursley, Josh Schellinger, Peter Selcho, Sam Warren, and Zachary Weston.

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DYER SELECTED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM AT UC SANTA BARBARA
Setter Gabriel Dyer was named to the Asics Invitational All-Tournament Team for his play over three matches in Santa Barbara. He totaled 110 assists, an average of 8.5 per set. Dyer kicked off the tourney with 41 helpers in a win against Lincoln Memorial. He finished with 19 against No. 2 UCLA and then established a new career high with 50 against No. 10 USC.

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2023 BOX SCORES
• 4/15: UC San Diego 0, Hawai'i 3 *
• 4/14: UC San Diego 1, Hawai'i 3 *
• 4/7: CSUN 2, UC San Diego 3 *
• 4/1: UC San Diego 0, Long Beach State 3 *
• 3/31: Long Beach State 3, UC San Diego 0 *
• 3/16: UC San Diego 3, CSUN 0 *
• 3/11: UC Irvine 3, UC San Diego 0 *
• 3/10: UC San Diego 0, UC Irvine 3 *
• 3/5: Ball State 3, UC San Diego 2
• 3/3: UC San Diego 1, UC Santa Barbara 3 *
• 2/24: CSUN 3, UC San Diego 1 *
• 2/21: UC San Diego 1, Concordia 3
• 2/14: Westcliff 0, UC San Diego 3
• 2/3: Ottawa 0, UC San Diego 3
• 1/29: UC San Diego 0, No 9 Grand Canyon 3
• 1/28: Erskine 0, UC San Diego 3 &
• 1/21: UC San Diego 0, No 2 UCLA 3
• 1/18: Menlo 0, UC San Diego 3
• 1/17: Emmanuel 0, UC San Diego 3
• 1/14: UC San Diego 1, No. 15 Lewis 3 
• 1/13: UC San Diego 0, No 12 Loyola 3
• 1/7: No. 10 USC 3, UC San Diego 2 #
• 1/6: No. 2 UCLA 3, UC San Diego 0 #
• 1/5: Lincoln Memorial 2, UC San Diego 3 #
* Big West
& at Phoenix
# at Santa Barbara, Calif.

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AVCA NATIONAL POLL
(4/17/23)
1. Hawai'i
2. UCLA
3. Penn State
4. Long Beach State
5. UC Irvine
6. BYU
7. Grand Canyon
8. Stanford
9. Pepperdine
10. Ball State
11. Ohio State
12. USC
13. Loyola-Chicago
14. Charleston
15. Princeton

Receiving votes: Lewis 13, CSUN 12, UC Santa Barbara 8, Saint Francis (Pa.) 6, McKendree 4, Lincoln Memorial 3

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BIG RANKINGS FOR THE BIG WEST
Three of the six Big West teams can be found in this week's AVCA Top 15 National Poll. CSUN and UC Santa Barbara are receiving votes.
1. Hawai'i
4. Long Beach State
5. UC Irvine

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2023 BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Hawai'i
2. Long Beach State
3. UC Irvine
4. UC Santa Barbara
5. CSUN
6. UC San Diego

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HEAD COACH BRAD ROSTRATTER
Brad Rostratter was named head coach of the UC San Diego men's volleyball program on October 7, 2022. He earned his first career win with the Tritons on Jan. 5, 2023, when the team defeated Lincoln Memorial in five sets at UC Santa Barbara's Asics Invitational. It was the team's season opener. Rostratter collected his first Big West victory on the road at CSUN when the Tritons swept the Matadors on March 16. A National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Coach of the Year and two-time Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Coach of the Year, Rostratter came to La Jolla from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., where he served as the men's volleyball head coach since the program's inception in 2019. He led the Lions to a pair of GSAC regular season titles, a league tournament title, and two appearances at the NAIA National Tournament. Complete Rostratter Bio

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BE SOCIAL!
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UC San Diego Athletics on Twitter (@UCSDtritons)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Instagram (UCSDmvb)
UC San Diego Men's Volleyball on Twitter (@UCSDmvb)

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FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

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GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.

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WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.

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OUR HOME HAS A NEW NAME
UC San Diego's volleyball home has been named LionTree Arena in recognition of a $5 million gift for scholar-athletes from LionTree, an independent investment and merchant bank with expertise in technology, media, and the digital economy. LionTree was founded by UC San Diego alumnus Aryeh B. Bourkoff, who also serves as the firm's CEO. LionTree's gift is the largest ever received by UC San Diego Athletics, establishing the LionTree Endowed Scholarship Fund to support scholar-athletes. The gift total contributed to the Campaign for UC San Diego, which concluded on June 30, 2022. Bourkoff also served as co-chair of the Campaign for UC San Diego Cabinet.

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NCAA MEN'S VOLLEYBALL LANDSCAPE
The NCAA combines Division I and Division II teams into a single national championship (National Collegiate Championship), while Division III squads have a stand-alone championship (NCAA Division III National Championship). There are 60 Division I and Division II teams combined, with 49 of those making up seven conferences. Another 11 institutions are independent. In 2023, the Northeast Conference (NEC) became the seventh conference to compete at the Division I/II level in men's volleyball.

The Big West (6)
CSUN (DI)
Hawai'i (DI)
Long Beach State (DI)
UC Irvine (DI)
UC San Diego (DI)
UC Santa Barbara (DI)

Conference Carolinas (8)
Barton (DII)
Belmont Abbey (DII)
Emmanuel (GA) (DII)
Erskine (DII)
King (TN) (DII)
Lees-McRae (DII)
Mount Olive (DII)
North Greenville (DII)

Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (6)
Charleston (WV) (DII)
George Mason (DI)
Harvard (DI)
NJIT (DI)
Penn State (DI)
Princeton (DI)

Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (8)
Ball State (DI)
Lewis (DII)
Lindenwood (DII)
Loyola Chicago (DI)
McKendree (DII)
Ohio State (DI)
Purdue Fort Wayne (DI)
Quincy (DII)

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (7)
BYU (DI)
Concordia Irvine (DII)
Grand Canyon (DI)
Pepperdine (DI)
Stanford (DI)
UCLA (DI)
USC (DI)

Northeast Conference (8)
D'Youville (DII)
Daemen (DII)
Fairleigh Dickinson (DII)
Long Island University (DII)
Merrimack (DI)
Sacred Heart (DII)
Saint Francis (DII)
St. Francis Brooklyn (DII)

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (6)
Benedict (DII)
Central State (DII)
Edward Waters (DII)
Fort Valley State (DII)
Kentucky State (DII)
Morehouse (DII)

Independent (11)
Alderson Broaddus (DII)
American International (DII)
Limestone (DII)
Lincoln Memorial (DII)
Maryville (DII)
Missouri S&T (DII)
Puerto Rico at Bayamon (DII)
Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (DII)
Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras (DII)
Queens (NC) (DII)
Tusculum (DII)

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America accolades, while 38 have received prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among NCAA Division I and II institutions.